As tax season gets underway, it’s important to be aware of a rise in tax refund scams targeting individuals and businesses alike. Cybercriminals know that many people are expecting refunds, and they use this opportunity to impersonate the IRS or state tax agencies in order to steal personal and financial information.

How These Scams Work

Scammers commonly send emails or text messages that appear to come from a legitimate tax authority. These messages may claim that your tax refund has been “processed,” “approved,” or “delayed” and urge you to click a link to verify your identity or receive your funds.

Once clicked, the link may direct you to a fake website that asks for sensitive information such as:

• Social Security numbers

• Bank account or routing numbers

• Login credentials or PINs

This type of attack is known as phishing, and it is designed to look authentic while quietly harvesting your data.

What to Know to Stay Safe

To help protect yourself, keep the following guidance in mind:

• The IRS and state tax agencies do not contact taxpayers by email, text message, or social media to request personal or financial information.

• Do not click links or reply to messages that claim to be about a tax refund.

• To check the status of a legitimate refund, go directly to official government websites by typing the web address into your browser yourself.

  • USA.gov offers reliable guidance on how to safely verify federal and state refunds.

• If you receive a suspicious email, do not engage with it. Delete it and mark it as spam or junk.

• For suspicious text messages, use your phone’s “report junk” feature or forward the message to 7726 (SPAM).

• If you believe your personal information may have been compromised, visit IdentityTheft.gov/steps for clear instructions on what to do next.

• Tax-related scams can also be reported to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud@ftc.gov.

Stay Vigilant This Tax Season

Being cautious with unexpected messages helps protect your identity, finances, and peace of mind. When in doubt, pause before clicking, verify information through trusted sources, and remember that legitimate tax agencies will never pressure you to act through unsolicited messages.

If you ever have questions about suspicious communications or want help confirming whether something is legitimate, reach out to a trusted professional before taking action.

Staying informed is one of the most effective ways to stay secure.